Trip to Antique Rose Emporium

April 18, 2008

I took a quick trip down to Independence, TX last week to the Antique Rose Emporium. Was there to pick out an un-named seedling to be the new 'Ebby Halliday' Rose. I wish I could have spent more time, but did my work part of the trip and then a quick whirl around the nursery. It's a lovely independent garden center and wholesale growing opperation that specializes in antique roses. Mike Shoup, the owner, is rose rangler and breeder. So fun to see all the pretty new un-named varieties he's working on. Of course a nursery devoted to roses smells pretty good this time of year...intoxicating. It was a gray windy day, so not the prettiest of days, but still nice. Problem is..when you go to a place like this..you want to plant one of everything in your garden! So many roses...so little time..and space...